northern lights

Thursday, 24 November 2011

A few days back I had written a blog on Holidays.Today I intend to write about Hard work.After a holiday when you return to your work place, body and mind both are relaxed. You can now do your best.I don’t mean that one should work hard only after the holidays.It should become a habit.For a person who is hard working there are challenges.Hard work involves determination, perseverance, tenacity and something more. It is the will to survive and to achieve greater heights by dint of hard work.I am remlnded of a story which I heard recently.It is the story of a boy who realized the importance of hard work only when he himself went through the grind.The boy, Raju, was a very ease loving and a careless brat.His father told him one day that he would get food only if went and earned for himself. Raju lazed around the whole day.In the evening he went to his mother and begged for money. His mother was carried away by his pleadings and gave him two gold coins. This fellow gave the coins to his father stating that he had earned them after a whole day’s work. The father told him,”Son, go and throw away these coins in the well.”This continued for some days.The father sent away his wife, sister and other members from the house.Raju was again ordered to go and earn for himself. Since there was no one in the house, the boy went in search of work. He carried luggage, swept roads and did menial jobs that were offered to him. At the end of the day, he had earned two gold coins. He handed over his day’s earning to his father. As usual the father advised him to throw away the coin into the well.But the boy did not obey his father. This was his first earning!! The result of his hard work!!The importance of hard work dawned on him and he told his father the truth.This story was narrated to us by our Guru ji, His holiness Nand Baba.Right from childhood the parents should inculcate the habit of working hard in their children.Sir George Bernard Shaw once said,”When I was young,I observed that nine out of ten things I did were failures.So I did ten times more work.”

The young generationis more awareof thefact that hard work is the onlyweapon which can bring successin life. There is so much competition in the world today that nothing but hard workis the only remedyto reach to the top. One can understand the value of hard work only by working hard. There are no short cuts to reach the top of the ladderof life. There is no doubt that you will face obstacles in this path of hard work but these can be removed with determination, patience and will power.

The great spiritualteacher, Swami Sivananda, has said, “Put your heart, mind, intellect and soul to your smallest acts. This is the secret of success.”One cando this only by concentratingon the work in hand.You have to drench yourself in hard labour.if you aspire to succeed in life..

One should have a fixed aim in life.Once you have identified what you want to do in life you should sincerely move on the fixed path. When my daughter was a small child,she always used to say that she would become a Doctor when she grows up.My son aspired to be a Chartered Accountant right from childhood.They had fixed their goals and always worked hard to achieve their desired objective.Their dreams were fulfilled because of their mission and steadfast hard work. If you are striving towards your goal with a spirit of devotion and dedication, even God will be there for you. As a saying goes”Godhelps those who help themselves." There are examples of many people who have achieved glory and high positions in life by sheer dint of hard labour.. They struggled while their competitors slept on or whiled away their time in useless pursuits.

The road to success is not always a rosy one and is strewn with thorns and rubbles. In spite of hard work and labour which has been put in, sometimes the result is not very encouraging.A person with grit and determination will fight back and leave no stone unturned to ultimately achieve his mission!! I am reminded of the story of Robert Bruce,the king of Scotland,which I read while I was in school.He was a noble King.He was brave and wise. The King of England was at war with him because he wanted to make Scotland a part of England.Six times he attacked Scotland. Robert Bruce’s army ,though small in number ,drove away the enemy.After the sixth attack Bruce’s army was scattered. Even the King himself went and hid in a cave.One day he just happened to see a spider inside the cave.She was trying to make its web, but could not succeed.The King forgot his troubles and watched the spider with great interest.Six times the spider failed but it did not lose heart.It succeeded in the seventh attempt!! The King jumped’Yes’ I will also fight the seventh time. He gathered his army and fought and regained his Kingdom.I have narrated this legend to highlight that hard and sincere effort will help one to achieve his goal. In the words of a famous author,,many, many tiny efforts that nobody sees or appreciates before you achieve anything worthwhile."

Sunday, 20 November 2011

Soup is universally known.Every one knows that a bowl of soup taken before meals, tickles our appetite. Besides being tasty there are many benefits of drinking soups.It is invigorating, healthy,and is helpful in keeping away many diseases. Knowing my penchant for devising new recipes for the family ,my friends and relatives keep on prodding me to provide new recipes for soups. Soups are the easiest to make. One can use any vegetable or pulses to prepare delicious soups.you can also utilise leftovers to create a new recipe.Fruits added to soups not only add to the nutritious value but also enhances its taste.Among soups the more popular one is the tomato soup.There is no doubt that tomato soup is very healthy. Tomatoes contain 'lycopene' a nutrient ,which gives red color to the tomato. and is also an anti-oxidant.

This recipe, therefore, is known to all soup lovers.Of course ,one can add a spoonful of Dal to make it richer in protein.Some vegetables and an apple can also be added for taste and extra nutrition. For garnishing, bread croutons can be used.(This is the hot favourite of old and young alike).Some of the soups that are appreciated and enjoyed in our house are the Almond soup ,Soya soup , and the Pop corn soup.So, I decided to share it with all of you.

Steaming hot soup on a winter evening God' Gift.

1.Almond Soup (For 4 people)

Ingredients:

: 1.Almonds One fistful

2.Onions One big

3.Butter or cooking oil 2tb.sp.

4. Milk 350 ml.

5.Salt To taste

6 Pepper A pinch

7.All purpose flour 2 tb.sps.

Method: Soak the almonds in warm water for sometime and remove the skin.They should then be coarsely ground.Onion should cut very finely. In a pan take oil/butter and add the finely cut onion.Stir the onion till translucent. Colour should not change.(It may take 1 or 2 mts.).Then add flour and stir continuously for about two minutes. Now ad the almonds and the milk.Keep stirring continuously,ensuring that no lumps are formed.Boil on medium heat till the soup becomes thick Before removing from the fire,add salt and pepper..For garnishing roast a few almonds,( about 5or 6) shred them and add to the soup just before serving.

2.Soya soup(4 servings)Ingredients:1.Potato medium size 12.Tomatoes 23.Soya Nutri Nugget granules 1 cup4Salt to taste5. Pepper powder i tsp.6.Corn flour 2 tbsp.7.Butter or any other cooking oil 2 tbsp. 8.Cardamom big 1 9. Spring onions with fresh stem 4.Method: boil soya granules and potato with one cardamom till tender.Add salt. In a pan put finely chopped onions and stems and saute till softened.Add corn flour and stir for a couple of minutes.Add tomatoes and stir for a few minutes. Discard the cardamom. Now take 3/4 of boiled soya and potato and add to pan. Stir for a while.Remove from the fire . Put this in a blender for a few minutes.In the smooth paste add the remaining 1/3 parts of boiled soya and potato liquid ( this will lend a crunchy taste to the soup)and boil till it becomes thick . Remove from the fire and serve piping hot. Add a little butter to the soup.(this is optional) before serving.This soup is very nourishing. An apple or an orange can be added when boiling

All the above mentioned soups are delicious.I also make Chick pea soup, French onion soup and mixed vegetable soup. Recipe can be provided on request.I have written all vegetarian recipes. In my next post I propose to write Non vegetarian soup recipes. If some one tries out these recipes and give their feedback. I will feel encouraged.So here's wishing everybody happy 'souping'